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The Simple Life (1998 TV series)

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The Simple Life
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
ComposerMark Mothersbaugh
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
  • Prudence Fraser
  • Robert Sternin
  • Pamela Norris
  • Robbie Schwartz
  • Herb Hamsher
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseJune 3 (1998-06-03) –
July 8, 1998 (1998-07-08)

The Simple Life is an American sitcom television series starring Judith Light which aired on CBS from June 3 until July 8, 1998. The series stars Judith Light as a Martha Stewart-like TV star, who decides to move her TV show from Manhattan to a rustic farm in upstate New York.[1]

Premise

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Judith Light stars in the series as Sara Campbell, the host of her own cooking show, who decides to leave Manhattan and move her show to a country farm. A divorcée, Sara moves her daughter Freddi and mother Muriel to rural upstate New York to live what she preaches — a simpler life. But as they soon learn, life there is anything but simple. Sara finds herself in constant conflict with foreman Luke Barton, who is raising his late sisters' son and daughter nearby.

CBS tried another show similar in content earlier in 1998 titled Style & Substance, starring Jean Smart as a lifestyle expert. It was cancelled after 5 episodes, while 7 more episodes were aired during the summer.

The Simple Life was co-created and produced by Prudence Fraser and Robert Sternin, who were then also producing the hit sitcom The Nanny for CBS as well. Sara was introduced as a former classmate of that series' lead character Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) and her sidekick Val Toriello (Rachel Chagall). They appeared in the pilot, while Fran's mother Sylvia (Renée Taylor) appeared in a separate episode.

Cast

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Main

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  • Judith Light as Sara Campbell (née Lipschitz)
  • Brett Cullen as Luke Barton, the foreman at Sara's farm
  • Florence Stanley as Muriel Lipschitz, Sara's mother
  • James Patrick Stuart as Greg Champlain, Sara's producer
  • Ashlee Levitch as Frederica "Freddi" Campbell, Sara's daughter
  • Ross Malinger as Will Barton, Luke's orphaned nephew
  • Eliza Dean as Charlotte Barton, Luke's orphaned niece

Recurring

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Notable guest stars

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Pamela FrymanPamela Norris & Prudence Fraser & Robert SterninJune 3, 1998 (1998-06-03)
Sara Campbell, a leading authority on homespun country living, decides to abandon her posh Manhattan digs to tape her do-it-yourself home show from a rustic, centuries-old farm in upstate New York.
2"The Remodeling Show"Ellen GittelsohnPamela NorrisJune 10, 1998 (1998-06-10)
Sara kicks Luke out of his home when she decides to return the farm to its 18th-century charm. The gang discovers a gruesome secret about the original owner.
3"The Church Supper"Philip Charles MacKenziePamela Norris & Robert Sternin & Robbie SchwartzUnaired
Sara and Luke go to a church supper, where Sara participates in a pie-eating contest.
4"The Other Mother"UnknownRick ShawJune 17, 1998 (1998-06-17)
When Muriel refuses to talk about Sara's childhood on a TV show, Sara hires an actress to be her mother for the day.
5"Sara's Ex"Philip Charles MacKenzieWayne LemonJune 24, 1998 (1998-06-24)
Sara's ex-husband Joel (Jay Thomas) announces that he is writing a tell-all book.
6"The Fly-Fishing Show"Rod DanielAnne Lewis & Melanie MacfeeJuly 1, 1998 (1998-07-01)
When Sara takes Luke and the kids on a fishing trip, she doesn't realize that her show is about to be cancelled.
7"The Luke and Sara Show"Dorothy LymanStory by : Pamela Norris
Teleplay by : Pamela Norris & Robert Sternin
July 8, 1998 (1998-07-08)
The network president (Joseph Bologna) wants Luke to have an on-camera role.

References

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  1. ^ TV Guide. "The Simple Life Cast and Details". TV Guide. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
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